The last edition of Munich Fabric Start closed its last edition on 16 July after three days of a trade show hosting around 650 international collections showcasing their novelties for the f/w 27/28 season at the MOC in Munich.
While the show registered a slight slowing down in attendance with 8% less visitors, they saw a growth in the mix of international visitors along with very high and professional business meetings and conversations, and a vast program of extremely interesting round tables and seminars on current industry topics.
Hosting the integrated shows-within-the-show—Bluezone, Keyhouse, and The Source—Munich Fabric Start hit its 30th anniversary for this edition. As part of their strategy to evolve they further refined its concept for this year’s edition with the show’s activities concentrated in three halls and the atrium.
The event’s redesign had the aim to ensure a more compact layout, shorter distances, and more productive business; discussion topics and conversations were high-level, qualified, and very professional.
“Munich Fabric Start is more than just a trade show. It is a home for the textile industry. This is what my father likes to say, as he founded the show 30 years ago,” said Florian Klinder, managing director, Munich Fabric Start. “For me, too, it is like a family. And alongside business, trends, and innovation, it is above all the sense of community that sustains the trade show—even in challenging times,” he added.
The show registered the presence of visitors, including designers, product managers, buyers, and corporate decision-makers from many German brands, but also European and international ones. Among others, they registered the presence of such as Akris, Alberto, Alpha Industries, Angels, Baldessarini, Betty Barclay, Bogner, Bonita, Brax Leineweber, Bugatti, C&A Buying, Cecil, Closed, Comma, Dior, Drykorn, Gerry Weber, Hiltl, Holy Fashion Group, Strellson, Hugo Boss, Juvia, Lodenfrey, Marc Chain, Marc O’Polo, Pioneer Jeans, Porsche Lifestyle Group, Riani, Rich & Royal, s.Oliver, Sportalm, Strellson, and Willy Bogner.
Among international visitors, they registered professionals from Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Bosnia, China, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Switzerland, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, the UK, along with Canada and the US.
Within the three days, the show’s session The Stage featured a program of keynote speakers, panels, trend presentations, and discussion sessions, a meeting point for acquiring knowledge, inspiration, and information exchange within the European textile and fashion industry.
Together with Keyhouse and the Sustainable Innovations Forum, Munich Fabric Start highlighted future-oriented topics such as AI, the circular economy, and new regulatory requirements.
As part of the program, they also hosted the presentation “System Design Report on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for Textiles in Germany.” The report, developed by Circular Republic–Unternehmer’s (TUM) circular economy initiative—in collaboration with more than 20 stakeholders across the textile value chain—discloses specific recommendations for the design of the German EPR system, a hot topic, with the EU requirement to introduce extended producer responsibility for textiles.
Among comments collected from exhibitors, a mix of different opinions emerged. Some participants in Bluezone think that a show lasting for three days is generally too long for them and generally preferred the previous location that could better enhance their identity.
“So far, it’s been a successful trade show—not quite like previous editions, but it’s been fine. Angels, Alberto, Hugo Boss, Toni Dress, and s. Oliver—to name just a few of our key clients whom we’ve seen over the first two days,” said Abdurrahman Akkoc, product development executive, Bossa.
“We had a steady stream of visitors throughout. Even today, on the third day of the trade show, the morning was still very busy—including in the Bluezone. We’re very satisfied,” summed up Franz Gerstl, owner of SGS Textilhandels GmbH, which represents the Sharabati and Tessuti Pordenone companies.
Other exhibitors, like, for instance, Agency Loomseven, showed satisfaction. “This is our first time on the ground floor, and we’re very happy with this decision. It has gone really well, although the last day was a bit quiet,” said Ilaria Pretto, sales & marketing, Agency Loomseven.
For some exhibitors, the audience was otherwise only from Germany. “In comparison to last year, we are happier. We had new customers not only from Germany, but also from Poland and the Czech Republic,” said Ahmet Oktay, general manager, Form Button.
Others, like Tessuti Marzotto Fabrics, have returned after five years. “Now it’s a new trial. We are still in the scouting process. Yesterday was a good day; the second day is a bit slower. We have the chance to meet new customers,” explained Marco Dal Martello, area manager.
“This is our third time taking part. As a Greek exhibitor at The Source, we found the trade show to be better than in previous years. Despite visitor numbers at the show being lower, we met both major brands and small companies coming to us to produce knitwear. Around 80% of them are from Germany, with the rest coming from Italy, Portugal, Estonia, and Poland,” commented Stefanie Karali, legal counsel, New Look.